get it on like the greeks

today i have something to satisfy both a sweet and a salty craving!  appropriate, since it's two-for-tuesday!

first, we'll start with the sweet:

what you need:

non-fat greek yogurt (plain or flavored-i always use vanilla)
honey
banana or strawberries
sunflower seeds (or any other nut)

this is simple to put together for a snack or a dessert:

greek yogurt goes into the bowl, topped by your fruit, honey and choice of nut or seed and enjoy!

 greek yogurt veggie dip

what you need:

washed and cut-up veggies of your choice
a packet of powdered ranch (i prefer the fiesta flavor)
unflavored, non-fat greek yogurt

mix the greek yogurt and ranch (use the same directions on the packet, substituting yogurt for the sour cream)

now eat it.  if you're like me, veggies aren't the go-to choice of snack, but this sure makes it easy!

Magic Fairy Dust

I originally made this creation for Landon and quickly adjusted it for myself when I was having a 'I-need-chocolate-now-or-I-might-yell-at-someone-maybe-even-the-cat-moment'.

What you need:

A victim (my go-to guy is always fresh, sliced organic strawberries)
Cocoa Powder (any unsweetened baking powder works, but I prefer dark chocolate cocoa)
Truvia (a slightly vanilla flavored version of Stevia (http://tinyurl.com/fdfpe)

What's next:

Mix cocoa with Truvia (I put mine in a sugar shaker so I always have it in an emergency...and yes, a sweet craving is an emergency)

Sprinkle on your victim and enjoy!

Other options:
Add some cinnamon or nutmeg for extra flavor

SUGAR ON MY TONGUE TONGUE

We all know sugar is bad.

• Sugar stimulates a physiological stressor-reaction cascade that provokes adrenaline and cortisol release and thickens the blood.
• Sugar effectively disables your immune system by impairing white blood cells’ functioning.
• Sugar decreases your body’s production of leptin, a hormone critical for appetite regulation.
• Sugar induces significant oxidative stress in the body.
• Sugar appears to fuel cancer cells. (Check out Free the Animal for much more on the cancer connection.)
• Sugar promotes fat storage and weight gain.
• Sugar disrupts the effective transfer of amino acids to muscle tissue.
• Sugar intake over time spurs insulin resistance, subsequent Type II diabetes and the entire host of related health issues like nerve damage and cardiovascular disease.

Yes, sugar is one insanely powerful drug. Addictive, to boot.

Ok I get it. Here's the thing.....try as I might, I still need that sweet satisfying elixir. Some of you may feel the same about salty or savory snacks, which also have their own hitches.

In my blog I will put my tastebuds and stomach on the line while I explore alternatives to those chocolate chip cookies and potato chips.